RVing and Camping Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park is one Colorado destination not to be missed. The park celebrates the history of the Pueblo people in the southwestern United States. Visitors to Mesa Verde can enjoy some of Colorado's amazing archeological sites, including some of the best cliff dwellings in the country.

Located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is a great spot to enjoy some of Colorado's amazing archeological sites. Within the park, visitors will find over 4,000 archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. An adventure to Mesa Verde can start at the Far View Visitor Center.

The Far View Visitor Center introduces all visitors to the park. There are exhibits of historic Native American art. Visitors also have to stop at the Far View Visitor Center to purchase tickets for the guided tours of the most remarkable cliff dwellings in the park. When the Far View Visitor Center is closed, the tickets for the guided tours of the cliff dwellings are available at the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. The Museum has displays that illustrates Ancestral Puebloan life. In addition the museum has a range of Puebloan artifacts.

After starting a visit at the Far View Visitor Center and the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, visitors should be sure to explore one of the cliff dwellings within the park. Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House, are only open to visitors with tickets. Spruce Tree House and Step House are both open seasonally for self guided tours.

Taking a guided tour of at least one of the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde is an absolute must for any visitor that is up to the journey. Guided and self-guided tours of any of the cliff tours are difficult and require a certain amount of stamina due to the distance of trails, quantity of steps and ladders and the high elevation of the destination.

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde. Visitors have to purchase tickets for an hour long guided tour. The tour covers about a quarter of a mile, but it involves climbing ladders, and a vertical climb. This walk and climb allows visitors to see the rooms and areas where the Pueblo people once lived. The tour for Cliff Palace starts at the Cliff Palace Overlook.

Another cliff dwelling that visitors can tour is Balcony House, which is one of the tours that provides the most adventure of all of the tours. Also an hour long, this tour takes visitor up a 60 foot rock face, multiple ladders and even a tunnel. Overall visitors get to really experience the cliff dwelling.

Long House is another guided cliff dwelling tour, which provides one of the most in depth look into the dwellings. This tour starts with a tram ride, and has a 3/4 mile walk, in addition to ladders and a nice long tour. The last cliff dwelling is the Spruce Tree House, which is open throughout the year. During the winter the dwelling is only accessible on a ranger guided tour, but during the spring through the fall visitors are allowed to take self-guided tours of the dwelling.

Visitors that aren't able to take a tour of the cliff dwellings, and those that want to see even more of the park can take the Mesa Top Loop Road. This is a driving tour of some amazing overlooks of the park. Mesa Top Loop Road takes drivers on a six mile loop that allows visitors to explore and see some of the parks beautiful sites. Tourists on the Mesa Top Loop Road can stop and see Cliff Palace from the Sun Point and Sun Temple stops.

Mesa Verde National Park also has many hiking trails throughout the park. There are trails for more experienced hikers as well as shorter trails for those that are more pressed for time. Each of the different trails takes visitors in to some of the most scenic sites within the park. There are trails that take visitors to petroglyphs and other important sites.

Throughout Mesa Verde National Park there are many fascinating sights to enjoy. Visitors can learn all about the history of the park and the Puebloan culture at the Far View Visitor Center and the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. The park has amazing cliff dwellings, fascinating hiking trails. Mesa Verde National Park is an amazing Colorado attraction.